Football Goal

ABSTRACT

A goal for use in a ball game, wherein the mouth of the goal is defined by two laterally spaced upright posts and a horizontal cross bar, wherein the posts and the cross bar are formed of flexible collapsible ropes tensioned by taut cables connected to the ends of the cross bar, the goal being suspended to a support cable

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to football goals for use in domestic gardens or open areas, and more particularly to collapsible football goals and netting. It helps to avoid some of the frustrations associated with conventional goal structures.

Many parents talk of the irritation of having a large football goal structure in their garden. Their child desires an ever larger goal to shoot at, whereas the parent sees it as unsightly, in the way, and ever more expensive as the size increases.

It would therefore be advantageous to provide a football goal that could be quickly and easily collapsed when not in use.

With these considerations in mind, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a football goal as set forth in claim 1 of the appended claims.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a football goal as set forth in claim 12 of the appended claims.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of erecting a football goal as set forth in claim 13 of the appended claims.

The present invention provides an easily collapsible football goal without requiring the use of structural poles in the goalmouth.

The invention is not limited to use on a football pitch, but may be applicable to any game involving a projectile and a goal, such as hockey.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an un-tensioned view of the goal prior to erection;

FIG. 2 shows a front view with the crossbar tensioned;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show alternative methods of tensioning the goalposts and base of the goal;

FIG. 5 shows in practice where the taut lines may be fixed;

FIG. 6 shows example methods of tethering the lines to side supports;

FIG. 7 shows the front view of a simpler 2 dimensional goal;

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show the front view of alternative embodiments with mesh surround;

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a front view of the goal portion connected to an upper cable;

FIGS. 11 a and 11 b show a front view of the goal portion illustrating two stages of tension release within the taut line;

FIG. 12 shows the front view of an alternative embodiment in the form of a continental shaped box goal; and

FIG. 13 shows a front view of the goal portion and taut lines stored to one side.

Turning first to FIG. 1, a collection of loose ropes and mesh fastened together define a goalmouth (14) and pocket elements (16) of a goal which when appropriately tensioned will create a 3-dimensional football goal structure without any rigid elements.

Lines of tethering rope (10) are attached to either end of the crossbar (12); or alternatively one line of rope extends continuously from beyond one end of the crossbar, alongside or instead of the crossbar, and out beyond the other end. The use of the terms cables, lines or ropes are intended to be interchangeable throughout this specification.

The crossbar will either be permanently attached to the tethering rope(s) such that it cannot move in relation to them, or detachable such that it can be released from them; either being completely released or able to slide relative to them.

The distal ends of the tethering rope(s) (18) are secured to fixed supports at either side of the desired location of the goal, and then tensioned. This causes the shape of the crossbar to be defined and allows it to be a point of rigidity from which the rest of the goal can be structured.

The goalposts are then tethered at ground level (20), for example by weights, pegs inserted into the ground, other devices, or to a tensioned lateral tethering rope (22) that extends from fixed supports at either side of the location of the goal. This tethering rope may be secured onto a post or pole, or other, or alternatively ground anchors. Again a vertical component in the tension of the rope when attached to the goalposts contributes to straightening the goalpost.

Preferably the goal may be fully formed by a mesh pocket (24) extending backwards from the goal mouth being pulled backwards and tethered to the ground (26) to ensure that balls cannot escape from the goal by passing under the lower perimeter of the pocket. Again this could be by weights, ground pegs or a further ground level tensioned tethering rope (28).

It is of course possible to provide a simple two dimensional goal in the form of a goal mouth only, defined by two posts and a crossbar (see FIG. 7).

As with the crossbar rope (10 & 12), the rear tethering rope (28) is either one rope attached to or in place of the rear base of the goal, or 2 ropes attached at each of the back corners. When this is tensioned, it is highly effective at preventing balls escaping from under the goal.

If both of the ground level tethering ropes are used instead of anchors or weights etc, it can be seen that the goal is effectively tethered to the ground for the purposes of the game, without actually having any tethers interacting with the ground in the vicinity of the goal. It could almost be described as fixed yet floating.

In practice, the distal ends of the crossbar tethering rope will be secured at a height (30) that is greater than the height of the straightened goalpost ropes above the point at which they will be secured at their base. As a result of having to pull the cross bar down, a vertical component of the tension in the tethering rope serves to tension the vertical ropes, therein imparting a degree of rigidity or structure to the goal posts.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the whole goal is positioned, shaped and functional on the basis of up to three laterally tensioned ropes.

The tension in each of the three lateral ropes may be provided and released by locking ratchets (32), cambuckles (34), pulleys, manual stretching of the rope (36) or other.

Although the preferred embodiment performs all the required functions of a goal without the need for rigid posts to be inserted as a framework, it may still be desirable to provide such a frame work in order to provide a more robust post and/or crossbar. The framework may consist of interlocking plastic or metal tubes or may be inflatable. The framework is typically inserted into sleeves provided at the edges of the line, mesh or web defining the goal mouth. This enables players of the game to determine without ambiguity if a ball has ‘hit the post’ such as may occur when playing with a permanent goal structure. What is essential is that the goal mouth may be erected and clearly defined without the need for such support members, and their use should be deemed as optional.

It may be that the edges of the goal mouth are marked or have some form of material attached so as to give the appearance of goalposts and crossbar.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 8 a and 8 b), there is a mesh curtain surrounding and attached to the perimeter of the goal mouth in order to prevent the ball from flying past the goal as a result of a missed shot. The mesh curtain might extend laterally from the goalposts (38), vertically from and above the crossbar, or both (40).

When the mesh extends vertically above the crossbar, it is hung from a permanent or retractable cable (42) suspended above the goalmouth. If present, the mesh extending laterally from the goalposts is hung from the crossbar tethering rope (10), or the optional top cable (42), or attached between the goalposts and side support. It may also be anchored to the ground with weights, ground anchors, or be connected to the ground level tethering ropes by looping through it or by curtain hooks/loops to prevent ball escape underneath it.

A significant benefit of this invention is that the goal is easily collapsible after use without the need for the dismantling or folding away of the frame of a conventional goal. Simply by releasing the tension in the tethering rope (10) and ropes (22, 28) or anchors (20, 26), perhaps by unlocking the ratchet(s) (32), cambuckle or other, the tethering ropes can be un-hooked and carried across to be hung at the fixed support at the opposite side (as shown in FIG. 13) or stored in some other fashion. Alternatively the tension in the crossbar may be decoupled from the crossbar tethering rope and slid along it to the other side, or similarly slid along an upper cable (eg. 42, 44) that is permanently hanging above the goal.

FIG. 9 provides an example of how the goal portion can be loosely attached to an upper cable (44), for example with 2 loops (46), so that when the crossbar rope is released from its support at one side, the goal portion can be easily slid across to the other instead of having to be carried across as described earlier. The advantage of this is that the defined shape of the goal can be maintained by easily releasable tethering cables. It is important that these can be removed as they may present a danger to others when not in use. By providing the upper cable (44), which is preferably a significant distance above the goal, the upper cable is significantly above the area that might present a danger when not the goal is not in use, and so may remain in place to aid in the quick deployment of the goal.

FIG. 10 shows the goal or goal mouth hanging below a horizontal tensioned line. In this embodiment connecting loops or lines (48) connect the lateral ends of the cross bar, or upper ends of the posts to the tensioned line. By securing the connecting loops or lines at their upper ends to the tensioned line and preventing relative axial movement, the cross bar is indirectly tensioned through the loops/lines. The loops or lines may be releasably secured to the tensioned line by suitable means such as cable ties, knots, clothes pegs or the like. When releasing the tensioned coupling between the tensioned line and the loops/lines, they remain supported by the tensioned line but no longer tension the cross bar. This allows the goal to slide relative to the tensioned line in the same way as a curtain to allow it to be easily moved into a collapsed position so that it no longer restricts movement within the garden.

In any of the above embodiments, when the goal is of a size that the crossbar tethering rope is secured at a height that makes it difficult to release its tension without the use of steps or a ladder, it is possible to simplify the procedure by dividing one of the tensioned runs of line into two separable components (see FIG. 11 a), or to detach it from the cross bar. This may be achieved for example by utilising two interconnecting carbine loops (50).

By releasing the tension in the ratchet (52) kept at a lower position for accessibility, the higher rope will sag, dropping the coupling within reach (FIG. 11 b). This can then be separated allowing the goal to be moved away to be stored.

An alternative method of retracting the goal portion uses a pulley system to lower the whole crossbar or cable by dropping the attachment loop or other (54) before either uncoupling the two parts, or unhooking the crossbar rope completely.

In an alternative embodiment, a further method of retracting the goal portion is achieved whereby one of the supporting posts at either side of the goal is lifted from its position and taken to be stowed at the opposite side.

The invention applies equally well to a continental box-shaped goal (56) as shown in FIG. 12. An additional tethering rope would be either attached to or form part of the additional upper edge of the now box-shaped goal portion, and would operate in an identical manner to the tensioned lines described above.

This application also supports an alternative embodiment including features described in some but not all figures. Any or all of the optional features described above and listed in the claims 2 to 11 below are also applicable to this embodiment. The characterising feature of this embodiment is that the goal is suspended only from a tensioned cable in a plane containing the crossbar and the goalmouth. This is illustrated by all figures with the exception FIG. 12 which shows an alternative goal configuration. By tethering the lower edge of the goal posts to the ground it is possible to alter the incline of the plane containing the goal mouth, but in so doing, the goalmouth will pivot about its upper suspension point or axis, namely the crossbar tethering rope, meaning that at all times, the tethering or tensioning cable from which the goal is suspended, will remain in the plain of the goal mouth regardless of where the lower edge of the goal mouth is positioned. 

1. A goal for use in a ball game, wherein the mouth of the goal is defined by two laterally spaced upright posts and a horizontal crossbar, wherein the posts and the crossbar are formed of flexible collapsible rope and are tensioned by taut cables connected to the ends of the crossbar, characterised by an upper support cable above the height of the goal from which the goal is suspended to allow the goal to slide along the upper cable between a deployed and stowed position when not laterally tensioned by the taut cables.
 2. A goal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising weights attached to the posts to increase the vertical tension within the posts.
 3. A goal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tether attached to a lower edge of the posts to secure them relative to the ground.
 4. A goal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lower taut cable, wherein the rope posts are connected between the taut cables extending from the rope crossbar and the lower taut cable.
 5. A goal as claimed in 4, wherein the lower taut cable is at ground level.
 6. A goal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the goal is formed from a mesh or web in the shape of a pocket for catching a ball, the pocket having a rear edge in a different plane from the goal mouth.
 7. A goal as claimed in any claim depending from claim 5, wherein the rear edge of the goal is attached to a second lower taut cable.
 8. A goal as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second lower taut cable is at ground level.
 9. A goal as claimed in claim 1, further including additional mesh or netting extending around the goal mouth to catch balls that do not enter the goal mouth.
 10. A goal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tension in the taut cables connected to the ends of the rope crossbar is altered by means of a releasable cambuckle, ratchet or locking pulley.
 11. A goal as claimed in claim 1, wherein at one of the taut cables extending from one side of the cross bar includes a coupling for selectively dividing the line into two sections.
 12. A goal for use in a ball game, the goal having a mouth defined by two laterally spaced upright posts and a horizontal crossbar, wherein the posts and crossbar are formed of flexible collapsible rope, characterised in that the goal is suspended only from a tensioned cable in a plane containing the crossbar and the goalmouth.
 13. A method of constructing and erecting a goal for use in a ball game, wherein the mouth of the goal is defined by two laterally spaced upright posts and a horizontal cross bar, wherein the posts and the cross bar are formed of flexibly collapsible rope comprising the steps of suspending the goal mouth from an upper support cable, sliding the goal mouth along the upper cable from a stowed to a deployed position and tensioning the goal mouth by connecting taut cables to the ends of the rope crossbar.
 14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of applying weights to the rope posts to increase the vertical tension within them.
 15. A method as claimed in claims 13, further comprising the step of tethering a lower edge of the rope posts relative to the ground.
 16. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of attaching a lower edge of the rope posts to a lower taut cable.
 17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lower taut cable is arranged at ground level.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the goal is formed from a mesh or web and is in the form of a pocket for catching a ball, the pocket having a rear edge in a different plane from the goal mouth, further comprising the step of tethering the rear edge of the goal to the ground.
 19. A method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of attaching the rear edge of the goal to a second lower taut cable extending in a different plane from the goal mouth.
 20. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of providing additional mesh or netting extending around the goal mouth to catch balls that do not enter the goal mouth. 